Storm shutter assembly



Feb. 13, 1962 Filed June 10, 1960 H. GRAULICH STORM SHUTTER ASSEMBLY 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.

Feb. 13, 1962 H. GRAULICH 3,020,951

STORM SHUTTER ASSEMBLY Filed June 10, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 V TOR.

HUBEET 69, [CH

kz mfimm L 3,020,851 Patented Feb. 13, 1962 3,020,951 STORM SHUTTER ASSEMBLY Hubert Graulich, 6801 Brighton Place, Coral Gables, Fla. Filed June 10, 1960, Ser. No. 35,208 3 Claims. (Cl. 160-35) The present invention relates to storm shutters of the type used to cover and protect windows in a building during periods of stormy weather.

Generally in use in localities where severe windstorms are experienced are storm shutters for temporarily extending over windows and protecting the windows from objects blown through space by high winds. The storm shutters usually employed are stored in a garage, basement, storage building, or the like, during periods of nonuse, and are removed from storage and attached to the walls of a building adjacent window openings when high winds are exp cted.

Not only is it time-consuming to remove from storage each of the storm shutters and place the same over the proper window openings, but the shutters, when stored, are liable to warp, and are subject to rapid deterioration, and require considerable maintenance to keep them in ready condition for use when needed.

An object of the present invention is to provide a storm shutter assembly which is attached to a building wall adjacent a window opening in a permanent manner, one which is instantly ready for use, one which requires little or no effort to extend from the nested inoperative position to the operative and locked position, and one which is completely concealed when in the inoperative non-use position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a storm shutter which lends itself to manufacture in any size desired for any size window opening, one which lends itself to manufacture at reasonable cost and in large quantities, and one which is highly effective in action.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a storm shutter which may be adapted for use to extend over and close a door opening, as well as a window opening, one which has means providing a pleasing appearance when in the nested position, one which is sturdy in construction requiring little or no maintenance over long periods of time, and one which enhances the appearance of the building, rather than detracting from the appearance of the building, as do presently employed storm shutters, when installed thereon.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be fully apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the annexed drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in elevation of a window in a building wall with the storm shutter assembly of the present invention installed on each side of the window, the assemblies being shown in closed or nested condition,

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of the assemblies shown in FIGURE 1, shown in operative position, one of the assembly covers being shown in place, and the other removed,

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view of the assemblies with both covers removed and with the shutter panels in nested condition,

FIGURE 4 is a view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG-, URE 1,

FIGURE 5 is a view taken on an enlarged scale, taken on line 55 of FIGURE 2, the dotted-line showings indicating the swung-away position of the cover and the partially swung-out extended position of the shutter panels, 7

FIGURE 6 is a view on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 7 is a view on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 77 of FIGURE 2, and

FIGURE 8 is a view on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 88 of FIGURE 2.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, in FIGURES l, and 4 to 7, the reference numeral 10 designates a building wall having a window opening 12 therein, and a window sash 14 set within the opening 12.

The storm shutter assembly or" the present invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 16 and it will be seen in FIGURES 1 to 3 that there is an assembly 16 on each side of the window opening 12. Inasmuch as the assemblies are identical, except for being lefts and rights, the detailed description of one as,- sembly 16 will be deemed sufficient.

Each assembly 16 consists in a plurality of panels arranged in folded position and connected together for movement from the folded position to a linear extended position. The panels of the assembly 16 are here shown as four in number, although it is to be understood that fewer or more panels could be assembled and connected together within the spirit of the present invention.

With particular reference to FIGURES 2, 4, and 5, a first panel 18 of the oneassembly 16 on the right-hand, side of the window opening 12 is shown in elevation, and shown secured. by nails 28 to the portion of the wall 10 adjacent the opening 12. Portions 22 and 24 of the panel 18 are cut-away in order to relieve the assembly 16 of as much weight as possible. The panels 18 are fabricated of relatively thick metal, on the order of three-sixteenths in order to provide rigidity to the assemblies 16.

The panel 18 on the left-hand side of the window opening 12 is also positioned so that it faces toward and abuts again the portion of the wall 10 adjacent the opening 12 and is fixedly secured thereto by other nails 20.

A second panel 26 is hingedly mounted on the side edge of the panel 18 adjacent the window opening 12, and a third panel 28 is hingedly connected to the panel 26, A fourth panel 30 is hingedly connected to the panel 28 for movement from the nested position of all of the panels, as in FIGURE 4, to a position in which the panels are in linear alignment extending over the opening 12, as in solid lines in FIGURE 5, the dotted lines in FIGURE 5 indicating the incomplete swinging movement of the panels 26, 28, and 30.

A cover 32, in the form of a shallow receptacle open at its front, is positioned so that it completely houses and conceals the panels 18, 26, 28 and 30, with the open front bearing against the Wall portion adjacent the window opening 12, when the panels are in the nested position shown in FIGURE 4.

A hinge 34 (FIGURE 5) constitutes means connecting the cover 32 to the side edge of the panel 18 remote from the opening 12 for swinging movement of the cover 32 from the concealing position with respect to the panels, to a position wholly away from and uncovering the folded panels. 7 The present invention provides releasable inter-engaging latch means on the panel 18 and on the cover 32 for holding the cover 32 in the position concealing the panels 18, 26, 28 and 30 when they are in the folded position, and also for concealing the single panel 18 when the other panels are in the linear extended position over the opening 12. Specifically, this means consists of a spring hook 36 (FIGURE6) engageable in one of two notches 38. The base portion of the hook 36 is fixedly secured to the back of the panel 18 adjacent the upper end thereof, and the notches 38 are formed in the upper end of the cover 32.

An important feature of the present invention resides in the provision of, for each assembly 16, a pair of bar support members 4t) and 42 arranged in side-by-side relation and positioned within the shallow receptacle or cover 32 and each having one end connected to the panel 18 for swinging movement of the respective bar member 40 or 42 from the position within the cover 32 to a position extending over the window opening 12 and bearing against the panels 26, 23 and 30, when the latter are in the linear extended position. These bar support members 40 and 42 are shown most clearly in FIGURES 2, 3, 6 and 7.

As shown in FIGURE 2, when the bar support member 40, at the top of the opening 12, is swung to the horizontal position bearing against the panels 26, 28 and 30, its free end abuttingly engages with the adjacent bar support member til of the assembly 16 on the other side of the opening 12. The free ends of the adjacent bar support members 40 and 4th, 42 and 42, are cut-away so as to form cooperating tendons, as at 44 in FIGURE 2, through which may be extended a fastening element in the form of a pin 46. The lower end portion of the pin 46 may be provided with a bore 43, as shown in FIGURE 7, for receiving therethrough the hasp 50 of a padlock 52, as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 7.

Obviously, other locking means may be employed for securing the pin 46 in the overlapping tendon end portions of the support members 4t) and 40' or 42 and 42'.

Each of the bar support members 40, 40', 42, 42' is secured to the associated panel 18 by means of a stud 54 with a washer 56 on each side of the respective support member for insuring free and easy swinging movement of the support member.

In use, the assemblies 16 are quickly and readily shifted from their nested positions wholly concealed by the covers 32 to the extended position across the window opening 12, and the covers 32 are easily and with facility opened and then again closed after the panels 26, 28 and 30 are in the extended position. As shown in FIGURE 3, the side portion of each cover 32 adjacent the upper and lower ends of the latter is provided with a cut-away part, as at 58, through which extends the adjacent bar support member, permitting the cover 32 to return to the closed position overlying and concealing the panel 18.

After the bar support members are in the extended position over the panels 26, 28 and 30, they may be secured thereto by means of shouldered cap screws 60, as in FIGURE 7.

Fastening elements, such as the pins 46, may be inserted in holes provided in the free ends of the bar support members for securing them in the extended position, and suitable lock means may be employed to secure the pins 46 in position.

Preferably, the panels 18, 26, 28 and 30 are secured together by piano-hinge means employing continuous hinge rods 62, as in FIGURE 8.

Other hinge means may be employed, if desired, for connecting the adjacent panels together, and in place of the nails 20 which secure the panel 18 to the building, if the building is fabricated of wood or the like, conventional anchoring bolts may be employed to secure the panel 18 if the building wall is constructed of concrete, brick, or the like, such other fastening means not being shown as not forming a part of the present invention.

A knurled thumbscrew 61 is anchored against inadvertent loss in each of the bar support members 40, 40, 42 and 42' inwardly of and spaced from the stud 54. When the bar support members are in the horizontal positions, the thumbscrews 61 each may be tightly screwed into a threaded hole in the adjacent relatively thick panel 18 so as to provide rigidity to the panels 22, 28 and 30 of each assembly 16.

Preferably, the outer face of each of the covers 32 is formed so as to simulate shutters 64, thereby adding to the appearance of the assembly 16 when the latter is installed upon the wall of a residence or other building. It is to be understood that instead of forming the covers 32 to resemble shutters 64, other designs may be imprinted in the covers 32 as desired, without departing from the spirit of the invention. Likewise, other changes and modifications may be made in the invention, and other embodiments contemplated within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. The combination with a building wall having an opening therein, of a storm shutter assembly comprising a plurality of panels arranged in folded position and connected together for movement from the folded position to a linear extended position, said panels being disposed so that one of said panels faces toward and abuts against the portion of said wall adjacent said opening, means fixedly attaching said one panel to said wall portion, a shallow receptacle open at its front positioned so that the receptacle completely houses and conceals said panels in folded position with the open front bearing against said wall portion, means connecting said receptacle to the side edge of said one panel remote from said opening for swinging movement of said receptacle from the concealing position to a position wholly away from and uncovering said folded panels, and a pair of bar support members arranged in side-by-side relation positioned within said shallow receptacle and each having one end connected to said one panel for swinging movement of the adjacent bar member from the position within said receptacle to a position extending over the opening and bearing against the panels when in linear extended position.

2. The combination with a building wall having an opening therein, of a storm shutter assembly comprising two sets of a plurality of panels, the panels of each set being arranged in folded position and connected together for movement from the folded position to a linear extended position, said sets of panels when in their linear extended position completely bridging said opening, the panels of one set being disposed so that one of said panels faces toward and abuts against the portion of said wall adjacent one side of said opening, the panels of the other set being disposed so that one of said panels faces toward and abuts against the portion of said wall adjacent the other side of said opening, means fixedly attaching said one panel of each set to the adjacent portion of said wall, a shallow receptacle open at its front positioned so that the receptacle completely houses and conceals each of said sets of anels in folded position with the open front bearing against the adjacent wall portion, means connecting each of said receptacles to the side edge of the adjacent one of said panels remote from said opening for swinging movement of said receptacle from the concealing position to a position wholly away from and uncovering the adjacent set of panels when folded, and a pair of bar support members arranged in side-by-side relation positioned within each of said receptacles and each having one end connected to the adjacent said one panel for swinging movement of the adjacent bar member from the position within said receptacle to a position extending over the opening and bearing against the adjacent panels when in the linear extended position, the free end of each bar support member of one pair of bar support members abuttingly engaging the free end of the adjacent bar support member of the other pair of bar support members when in the extended position.

3. The combination with a building wall having an opening therein, of a storm shutter assembly comprising two sets of a plurality of panels, the panels of each set being arranged in folded position and connected together for movement from the folded position to a linear extended position, said sets of panels when in their linear extended position completely bridging said opening, the panels of one set being disposed so that one of said panels faces toward and abuts against the portion of said wall adjacent one side of said opening, the panels of the other set being disposed so that one of said panels faces toward and abuts against the portion of said wall adjacent the other side of said opening, means fixedly attaching said one panel of each set to the adjacent portion of said wall, a shallow receptacle open at its front positioned so that the receptacle completely houses and conceals each of said sets of panels in folded position with the open front bearing against the adjacent wall portion, means connecting each of said receptacles to the side edge of the adjacent one of said panels remote from said opening for swinging movement of said receptacle from the concealing position to a position wholly away from and uncovering the adjacent set of panels when folded, and a pair of bar support members arranged in side-by-side relation positioned within each of said receptacles and each having one end connected to the adjacent said one panel for swinging movement of the adjacent bar member from the position Within said receptacle to a position extending over the opening and bearing against the aidjacent panels when in the linear extended position, the

free end of each bar support member of one pair of bar support members abuttingly engaging the free end of the adjacent ba-r support member of the other pair of bar support members when in the extended position, and removable fastening means adapted to extend through and secure together the abuttingly engaged bar support memher free ends when said bar suppomt members are in the extended position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 127,006 Wright et a] May 21, 1872 953,869 Thompson Apr. 5, 1910 1,070,517 Packard Aug. 19, 1913 1,569,868 Lock Jan. 19, 1926 2,091,706 Flint Aug. 31, 1937 

